Lighting fixture



Aug. 18, 1942. Y H. J.;LAsPY 2,293 111 LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan; 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L L I 7T INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 LIGHTING FIXTURE Hugh J. Claspy, Monaca, Pa., assignor to The Phoenix Glass Company, Monaca, Pa., a. corporation of West Virginia Application January 7, 1941, Serial No. 373,425

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lighting fixtures and mountings for lighting fixtures, for use in fluorescent lighting, and the present application is an improvement on my application serially numbered 354,037, filed August 24, 1940.

It is among the objects thereof to provide a lighting fixture unit for fluorescent lamps which is especially designed for ventilation, while at the same time sealing the fixture proper against the ingress of dust.

Fluorescent lighting requires a housing for a lamp ballast, such as transformer and circuit connections, which generate heat, whereas the lights themselves remain relatively cold.

In the hereinbefore mentioned application, the lamp ballast is housed within the glass shade so that the entire fixture is subjected to the heat of the ballast, the heat loss being by radiation through the walls of the fixture.

In accordance with the present invention, the ballast housing, although contained within the fixture, is open to the atmosphere for ventilation, while the shade is substantially sealed around the ballast housing.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partially in crosssection of a lighting fixture embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a top plan view partially cut away and in partial section, taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a side elevational view partially in crosssection of a modified form of lighting fixture;

Fig. 5 a top plan view thereof taken along the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a vertical cross-secticnal view take along the line 6-6, Fig. 4.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a ceiling canopy I having vertically depending conduits 2 joined to a horizontal strap 3 to which is attached a flanged ring 4 for receiving the ends of a pair of translucent lighting shade units 5, which are seated in flanges of the ring 4 and secured in a manner to be hereinafter described.

A box 6 for auxiliary equipment or ballast,

fixture supports 3 and 4, and a cover 8 may be provided, which is also provided with cut-out ventilations 1a simlar to those shown at 1 in the box 6. The half sections of shades 5 are cutout in an oblong shape, as shown in Fig. 2, and are provided with a shoulder minced 9 through which the box 6 projects, the shoulder 9 forming a seal with the box 6, as shown in Fig. 1, by a close fit therewith, and the cover 8 prevents the ingress of dust to the joint between the shoulder 9 and :box 6.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cover 8 may have a clearance space with the shade 5 for ventilation instead of perforations, as the perforations I of Fig. 1. A channel I0, having flared sides ll, secured to the box 6, carries the auxiliary or ballast, which is designated by the reference numeral l2. A second channel I3, secured to the channel it is spaced from the latter to provide clearance under the ballast housing for wires that lead to the end terminals [4 of the fluorescent light tubes l5. The half sections of the fixtures are secured in abutting relation against the supporting ring 4 by means of end screws I6 that are fastened to the channel H], the screws extending through perforations in the ends of the shades, and thumb nuts ll interacting with the screws 16 abut the end faces of the shade sections.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, there are two end shade sections designated by the numeral 2i], and a center section 2| mounted between flange supporting rings 22. The ballast box 26 is attached by a mounting plate 3| to suspension conduits 23 extending from a ceiling canopy 24.

In this construction the center shade section 2| is open at 25, Fig. 4, and the ballast box 26 is ventilated through this opening. A cover 21 is disposed over the opening 25 and is suitably perforated or cleared from the fixture to provide ventilation. Numeral 28 designates the auxiliary or ballast which is contained in the box 26, and

. the fixture assembly is secured in place by end having ventilating holes 1, is secured to the screws 29 and thumb nuts 30.

The inner construction of the fixture of Figs. 4 to 6 is better shown in Fig. 6. The box 26 is provided with flared sides 32 that engage the under side of the section and help support the center fixture 2|. The cover 21 is shown as provided with a clearance 33 for ventilation, and four flourescent lighting tubes 34 are mounted on end terminals of the box or channel member 26.

It is evident from the foregoing description of this invention that lighting fixtures for fluore cent lighting made in accordance therewith house the light tubes and protect them against the accumulation of dust, While permitting free ventilation through the fixture bracket or ballast housing without seriously impairing the appearance of the structure.

The arrangement further provides a secure mounting for glass or plastic shades of substantial size, which can readily be attached and removed for cleaning and inspection of the light tubes. Also the construction lends itself to a mounting or cleaning of the fixture support with the glass shades entirely removed, thereby avoiding possibility of break-age.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture for fluorescent lamps comprising a supporting bracket, a flanged center ring attached to the bracket, a combined housing and channel for the lamp auxiliary or ballast secured to said bracket, end terminals carried by said channel for supporting fluorescent lamps, translucent shade sections having their inner ends abut the supporting ring and seated in the flanges of said ring; said shade sections having cut-out portions through which a portion of the ballast housing projects, vents in the projecting portion of said housing, a cover for the projecting portion of the housing, vents in said cover to provide circulation of air from the ballast housing and channel to the atmosphere, and fastening means attached to the end terminals and passing through the ends of the shade sections for holding the shade sections in place.

2. A lighting fixture for fluorescent lamps comprising a supporting bracket, a combined housing and channel for the lamp auxiliary or ballast secured to said bracket, end terminals carried by said .channel for supporting fluorescent lamps, a sectional translucent shade housing said channel and terminals, supporting means attached to said bracket for abutting the ends of the shade sections, said shade having a cut-out portion, means in conjunction with said cut-out portion for venting the heat of the ballast, and means at the extended ends of the fixture for engaging the outer ends of the shade to draw the sections into abutting engagement with the supporting means.

3. A lighting fixture for fluorescent lamps comprising a supporting bracket, a combined housing and channel for the lamp auxiliary or ballast secured to said bracket, end terminals carried by said channel for supporting fluorescent lamps, y translucent shade sections housing said channel and terminals, supporting means attached to said bracket for abutting th ends of the shade sections, said shade sections having cut-out portions in sealing engagement with a projecting portion of the housing, means for venting the heat of the ballast through the projecting portion of the housing and means at the extended ends of the fixture for engaging the outer ends of the shade sections to draw them into abutting engagement with the supporting means.

HUGH J. CLASPY. 

